Rio Ferdinand believes that Arsenal has the potential to make a deep run in the UEFA Champions League and cautions that they are a formidable opponent for any team.

Rio Ferdinand, the former England defender, has praised Arsenal’s performance in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. He believes that the team has the potential to go far in the competition, as long as they avoid facing Manchester City and Real Madrid until later stages.

Speaking about Arsenal’s chances, Ferdinand stated, “I think they can go a long way in this tournament. As long as they stay away from Man City and Real Madrid until maybe the semis or finals, I think they can get that far. They’ve got nothing to fear outside those two.”

Arsenal has been in sensational form since the Premier League’s winter break, winning their last five matches and scoring an impressive 21 goals. Their most recent victory was a dominant 5-0 win against Burnley. Ferdinand has been particularly impressed with the team’s collective effort, highlighting the contributions of players like Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.

“Odegaard scoring the other day, a couple of goals. Saka scoring again. Those two creative players can define a match. When they’re in form, add Gabriel Martinelli to that, they’re a threat for anyone,” Ferdinand remarked.

However, Ferdinand faced criticism from Arsenal supporters after suggesting that Saka is not yet at the same level as Manchester City’s Phil Foden. Defending his viewpoint, Ferdinand addressed Arsenal fans on a flight to Porto, saying, “Hello guys. I just wanted to say it’s been an absolute pleasure travelling with you Arsenal fans. I must say Saka is a fantastic player, just not world class yet! He will be one day but just not yet.”

To watch the Porto v Arsenal match, fans can tune in to TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 19:00 UK time on Wednesday, February 21. TNT Sports is available on major TV platforms, including discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media. Fans can also use the Pub Finder tool to locate local establishments showing TNT Sports.